Sabaton has long been a favorite here at Metal-Rules.com. Every album has been well received by our reviewers. The bands successful four album run on Black Lodge, the band caught the eyes and ears of Nuclear Blast who released COAT OF ARMS last year which made our staffs collective Top 20 for 2010. Knowing a good thing when they hear it, Nuclear Blast has given the bands entire catalogue the reissue treatment with the ‘Re-Armed Series’. It seems the North American pressing has retained the original cover art, which is a better choice because I personally don’t like it when a label tampers with the cover art for reissues. Would Leonardo DaVinci go back and add a mustache to the Mona Lisa? I think not.

I’m not going to focus too heavily on the albums themselves because our various staff members have already written a number of fine reviews of the original albums. I highly recommend you check out those reviews in our database. For the new fans, North Americans who found it hard to get the original pressings, or for those existing fans who want to know if picking up the reissues are worth it, please read on!

This a well put together reissue. It comes with a couple dozen photos each with an amusing caption, capturing the band mostly goofing off. Full album lyrics are included as well. There are extensive liner notes, lots of valuable insight as well as a track-by-track breakdown of the bonus tracks. Speaking of which, the true value of this reissue for most fans will be the five bonus tracks.

They kick off with …a mistake! The back cover lists the song ‘Fur Immer’ as a Doro cover tune, but actually it was a Warlock cover song. It is the last song on the 1987 Warlock album TRIUMPH AND AGONY. It’s not a big deal and they do an excellent version, it’s interesting to hear a male sing that iconic song. Next up another cover tune by Svenne Rubins. I’m not familiar with the artist or the song but it’s a good tune. It probably means more to a Swede or a fan familiar with the original song. Next comes a neat medley of ‘Metal Machine’ and ‘Metal Crue’ recorded live in Falun, Sweden in 2008. Medleys are cool. Next up is a track called ‘Nightchild’ which was an early version of ‘Purple Heart’ from PRIMO VICTORIA’ with different lyrics. Lastly we get a demo version of ‘Primo Victoria’.

Those last two songs probably should have been a bonus track on that album in this reissue series. They could have added the two live tracks from the PRIMO VICTORIA reissue onto this one because it was from the corresponding tour. Why not have the Primo Victoria-era bonus tracks on the Primo Victoria reissue and the Attero Dominatus-era live songs on the Attero Dominatus reissue? It would have made more sense. Aside from those very technical and unimportant track placement issues aside, this reissue is mandatory for fans of the band.

Track Listing

1. Attero Dominatus
2. Nuclear Attack
3. Rise of Evil
4. In the Name of God
5. We Burn
6. Angels Calling
7. Back in Control
8. A Light in the Black
9. Metal Crüe